Assyrian Leaders, US Deputy National Security Adviser Discuss ISIL Attacks

Source: Sputnik
The White House stated that Assyrian leaders met with US Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes in Washington, DC to discuss the threat posed by the Islamic State to Christian communities in Iraq and Syria.
Natalya Mihailova | 10 March 2015
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Assyrian leaders met with US Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes in Washington, DC to discuss the threat posed by the Islamic State to Christian communities in Iraq and Syria, the White House said in a statement.
Assyrian Leaders, US Deputy National Security Adviser Discuss ISIL Attacks
Photo: AP

“Bishops Mar Awa Royel and Mar Paulus Benjamin of the Assyrian Church of the East… briefed Rhodes on the challenges facing Christian communities in Syria and Iraq, and on the current situation along the Khabur River in northeastern Syria,” the statement, issued on Monday, said.

Over the past two weeks, the ISIL has attacked predominantly Assyrian Christian villages, displacing several thousand people and taking hundreds of civilians hostage, according to the statement.

Rhodes reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to protect the Christian communities in Iraq and Syria, and ultimately to degrade and defeat the Islamic State.

The ISIL has regularly targeted ethnic and religious minorities in Syria and Iraq, including the region’s ancient Assyrian Christian community. The extremist group released a number of Assyrian hostages last week, but more than two hundred remain captive.

The Syrian Kurds and Syrian regime have been in intense fights with the Islamic State in northeastern Syria over the past two weeks to take control of a number of Assyrian dominated villages.

Assyrians in Syria have formed military units, called Sutoro, tied to the Syrian Kurdish fighters, or YPG, to defend against the Islamic State.

Since you are here…

…we do have a small request. More and more people visit Orthodoxy and the World website. However, resources for editorial are scarce. In comparison to some mass media, we do not make paid subscription. It is our deepest belief that preaching Christ for money is wrong.

Having said that, Pravmir provides daily articles from an autonomous news service, weekly wall newspaper for churches, lectorium, photos, videos, hosting and servers. Editors and translators work together towards one goal: to make our four websites possible - Pravmir.ru, Neinvalid.ru, Matrony.ru and Pravmir.com. Therefore our request for help is understandable.

For example, 5 euros a month is it a lot or little? A cup of coffee? It is not that much for a family budget, but it is a significant amount for Pravmir.

If everyone reading Pravmir could donate 5 euros a month, they would contribute greatly to our ability to spread the word of Christ, Orthodoxy, life's purpose, family and society.